I have not only take off the 7 pounds I gained while on disability, but I’ve lost an extra! Down to 184. Nearly down to my lowest weight of 183. I will get to my goal weight in the next year. I will I will I will. I just have to focus on the important stuff – high quality dense protien, lots of fluids, and limiting my carbs. And remembering that my pouch is there for a reason.

Once I get my ass back to exercising regularly, that will help too. My knee is doing a lot better. I’m back to full weight bearing, which means I’ve finally (after two months) ditched the crutches, and I actually have been walking pretty well. Lots of swelling, and pain by the end of the day, but PT is working, and I’m regaining strength and flexibility – both are very important. After my first knee sugery 3 years ago, it literally took me 18 months to go up and down the steps foot over foot. Yesterday, I went both up (easier) and down(very hard) the stairs foot over foot without too many problems. I can also stand my full weight on my right leg (briefly) and that took me six months the last time.

My pouch still works. And that’s a wonderful thing. Since I have been back to eating good food (proteins, good carbs, high fiber, veggies) instead of slider foods, my pouch is telling me, “Whoa Nelly” and puts the brakes on. That’s a good thing. A very good thing. And I’ve already taken off 3 pounds (I know, I shouldn’t weigh). Also makes me happy.

And last night I actually did some exercise – if you count PT. I did the bike. I did the total gym (although I’m really NOT sure I’m supposed to be doing this because I think it counts as squats). I did bridges (great for the ass and abs). My knee hurt like a crack ho last night, but I did it.

And I didn’t over indulge during the hurricane or subsquent two days where we were without power, had 3.5 inches of water in our basement or a tree down in our front yard. GO ME! No stress eating! YAY.

Now, I gotta keep this up!

I joined ediets. I know, I know. But I need something to hold me accountable, and cash is king.

So, now that I can put a little weight on my knee, I decided to get on the scale this morning.

Duhn duhn dhun…

Up 7 pounds.

Holy shit.

Time to get back to basics. This morning, I had a protien shake and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. I need my oatmeal to keep things moving. So, I had oatmeal, mixed with some frozen blueberries and about a tsp of chopped walnuts for some good fat. Lunch will be tuna salad, and dinner is some fresh croaker that our friends gave us when we were on vacation this past week.

I know, I know. 7 pounds over 8 weeks should not freak me out quite so much, but it does. I can’t exercise right now. Can’t. My knee won’t hold me as it is simply not strong enough to do a decent cardio work out. Hell, I can’t even walk right now. And I know I’ve been shoveling food in my face left and right. CARBS. CARBS ARE MADE OF EVIL. So, it’s back to good proteins, lots of fruit and veggies, and upping the water intake. No carbies. NO NO NO.

I saw my ortho yesterday, and I finally got out of the immobilizer. It is a bit of a mixed blessing. I really wanted to be out of the immobilizer because it was clunky and uncomfortable, but now that I’m out of it (and in a hinged knee brace) and my knee is not stablized nearly as much, I want to be back in the immobilizer. I spent nearly five weeks with my knee not moving, and now that I do have permission to bend it (update on that in a minute) I realize exactly how weak my knee is.

As for bending the knee, the doctor bent it for the first time yesterday. I had a really good ROM (range of motion) prior to surgery. Yesterday, he bent it approximately 30 degrees and it hurt. He bent it a second time at about 45 degrees and it really hurt. Dr. Prodoehl, however, is thrilled with this. I am now doing CPM (continual motion), which is essentially bending and straightening the leg for 15 minutes a day. By the time I start physical therapy again on the 29th, he expects me to have all of my ROM back. I’m thinking probably not.

He’s also ordered a muscle stimulator for me. This will help rebuilt the muscles and tendons around my knee. I’m still non-weight bearing until the 29th and then I can begin putting light weight on it. Prior to getting out of the immobilizer, I was able to use my right leg with toe weight and get around without crutches. Now not at all. Even if I could put weight on my leg, it won’t hold me. That should come with PT.

As for PT, I called to set up my appointments and got Ken. Now, I like Ken. A lot. Don’t get me wrong. Ken is cool. But he also has a tendancy to dig and dig at the knee and it hurts. For this, I am worried. I’m sure at first they’ll keep me to table exercises so as not to mess with the new cartalidge growing inside me. I’m still not looking forward to it.

On the weight loss front, I learned yesterday that my pouch still works. I ate something I shouldn’t have (too much grease) and immediately got sick. Yay for a working pouch.

I started back to work on August 3, and it’s kept me very busy. Lots of catch up. For now, I’m still working from home. As of my last appointment which was on Tuesday of this week, still no weight bearing and no bending. I go back on Monday and he’s going to bend my leg for the first time. Of course, I’m not looking forward to that, but yeah, it is what it is.

I also had a bone density scan this week – my first. The doctor ordered it for two reasons – one, I was due for one, and two, the amount of arthritis I have had him a bit worried. We have a history of osteoperosis in my family. I was interested in getting the bone density scan for another reason. I’m now nearly two years out from my gastric bypass. If you have ever researched gastric bypass, you know it comes with malabsorbtion issues. One of those things that you don’t absorb as much of is your calcium. Ever since surgery, I’ve been on a strict vitamin and supplement regimine, including a double dose of calcium on a daily basis. As I approach my 40s (somewhat faster than even I want to believe), I’m even more concerned about calcium absorbtion. I take two calcium supplements per day, as well as a dose of folic acid and additional vitamin D.

I am happy to report that after two years of my strict calcium therapy, my bone density scan was NORMAL! W00T! That means my vitamin therapy is working! And I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.

I can not emphasize enough the importance of taking your vits after WLS. You don’t get enough nutrition any longer to meet your daily needs. So take those vitamins!

Just haven’t had much to post about on the weight loss front. Or on the regular front either, since I haven’t posted to any of my blogs lately.

I started back to work last week, and will be working from home until I’m able to drive again. Who knows when that will be. I’m still in the immobilizer and on crutches. Still not allowed to bend my leg or put weight on it. Still going stir crazy. The incision has healed up nicely, but the skin under the ace bandage (which is under the immobilizer) is really dry and flakey and itches like all get out. I’ve been unwrapping it twice a day to slather it up with gold bond medicated lotion, which seems to help. The knee cap is still swollen and sore to the touch, but the joint itself is feeling pretty good. Weak, but good. Not looking forward to starting PT or actually bending the leg. I imagine that it’s going to be quite painful.

As for food, meh. I’ve finally gotten my system back on track. I’ve been eating a lot of fruit and trying to limit my carbs, but I haven’t exactly paid attention to my portion sizes (ok, the pouch tells me when to stop, but still, lots of snacking going on). I need to start doing that. And my period is due next week, and I’m craving things like crazy. UGH. I miss exercise. I can’t even just go out for a walk. On the plus side, though, anyone who has used crutches for any period of time knows that it is an awesome upper body and ab workout. I haven’t been able to accurately weigh myself – but I’m not gaining.

I’m looking forward to getting my life back to normal. For three weeks after surgery, EVERY time I ate I got horrible pains in my lower abdomen. Of course, once I made an appointment with my doctor, those pains went away (so I cancelled the appointment). I think it has a lot do to with the fact that I’m finally off the prescription pain killers and I’ve got out a lot of the carbs I was eating. I’m trying to move around a bit more as well.

You know, one thing I didn’t anticipate was problems with my insurance covering my surgery. I anticipated issues with gastric bypass, but figured knee surgery would be a no brainer. Of course, I did understand that the procedure I had was relatively new, but didn’t think about it too hard. So I got my explanation of benefits this week, and was surprised to see that there were two claims for the surgery. One for the de novo graft (for $1,000) and one for the arthroscopy (for $1,400). Don’t you know, they said that they wouldn’t pay for my arthroscopy. Sigh. The explanation was there was no proof the surgery was requried. Which made me laugh because they had no issues paying for all the PT I had, or the MRIs and X-rays, and the ortho appointments. Or the de novo graft itself. I guess they figured the doctor was going to have to go through my throat to get to my knee, or glue it to the outside. *shake my head* So, I phone Blue Cross. And spoke to a lovely lady. And she told me that they said I had a similar surgery in the past three years, and didn’t see why I needed it again.

o.O

I calmly explained to her that yes, I did have an arthroscopy three years ago. On my LEFT knee. This one was my RIGHT knee. Because, you know, I have TWO knees.

“Oh,” she says.

And then she put me on hold for 10 minutes, in which I’m sure she had to ask her supervisor what to do. Needless to say, they resubmitted the claim for payment.

Sigh.

So that’s what’s going on around here. I did manage to get out and see a movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – AWESOME) and will be getting out next weekend with my Mom to go see The Help. It wasn’t too bad at the theater, but my knee did ache after two hours of it hanging down. Hopefully it will be a little better by next weekend. I have my one month follow up with my surgeon this week so hopefully we’ll see some progress.

My weight is holding steady. I don’t actually know what I weigh right now, since my immobilizer is still on and I can’t get a sufficient weight. I know I haven’t gained weight, and I don’t think I’ve lost, but I don’t know how much I actually weigh.

The worst thing is not being able to move around to sufficiently rid myself of gas. Gas post WLS sucks. It hurts. A lot. And the only way to get rid of it is to walk it off. Can’t walk if off if you can’t walk.

Exercise is nil. I can’t. Using my crutches does burn some calories, and it is a great ab workout (who would have thought?). But my arms get sore, and I can’t go too far or do too much. My knee gets sore when I move around too much, and I’m not able to put weight on it at all. Sigh. Without exercise, I stall out. STALL OUT.

I’m thinking of maybe going back to weight watchers (with an altered program for WLS) after I get out of the immobilizer so I can lost the last 30 or so pounds I need to. Never has my goal been so cloase but SOOOOOO far off. Sigh.